Email: cmdoyle@focusfamilymediation.co.uk
Background
Carmel qualified as a solicitor in 1988, became a partner in a Sheffield law firm just over two years later and was made head of the family law department in 2000. She trained as a family mediator in March 2000 and worked as both a mediator and solicitor until 2011 when she decided to concentrate on mediation.
Reputation
Carmel has built up an excellent reputation as a family mediator with many cases being referred to Carmel by solicitors who know that she will look after their clients and do a good job for them. Many clients also recommend their family and friends to Carmel because they themselves found mediation to have been a positive experience and found Carmel to be professional, knowledgeable and thorough.
Experience
Carmel deals with all types of family mediation including financial settlements for divorcing and separating couples, arrangements for children, contact for grandparents, disputes between couples who have lived together and generally any issues arising as a result of the breakdown in a relationship.
Carmel is specifically qualified to conduct child inclusive mediations or Direct Child Consultation as it is also known. In appropriate cases, Carmel is asked to prepare reports for court.
Approach
Carmel’s approach is a practical, realistic one whilst remaining impartial at all times and helping clients to maintain a sense of proportion equally for those who are paying their own costs and those who are receiving legal aid.
What Carmel says
I am extremely enthusiastic about mediation because having worked as a family Solicitor for so many years, I am acutely aware of the worries and uncertainty that people experience when trying to fight for a result rather than trying to work out a solution together. I take great pride in helping couples to find ways of working with each other as effectively as is possible. It is very important to me that anyone going through the mediation process finds it to be a positive experience and I will always do my best to help couples reach a successful conclusion.
Personal
Carmel was born and brought up in Sheffield. She is married with two adult children and although often described as a workaholic, she enjoys pottering in the garden, running, watching football and cricket and socialising with family and friends.
Background
Liz qualified as a solicitor in 2007 and has over 10 years of experience in family law, having worked in a large family law department in Sheffield. She became an accredited specialist in financial and children matters in 2013.
Liz qualified as a mediator in 2012 and achieved the legal aid accreditation as an ‘All Issues” mediator in 2015 which means that she can assist with both financial and children matters. Liz is now concentrating solely on mediation whilst maintaining a keen interest in family law in practice.
Experience
In relation to children matters, Liz has mediated in a wide range of cases including those involving other family members for example grandparents, cases involving a proposed relocation of a child from the jurisdiction, cases involving mental health factors and those where there is social services involvement. Liz has experience in dealing with all aspects of financial matters from cases with lower value assets and debt to more complex cases involving assets of larger value and businesses.
Approach
Having acted as a Solicitor in Court proceedings and having seen how emotionally and financially draining this process can be, Liz recognises the clear benefits to individuals in finding a solution to the issues concerning their children and their finances themselves. Liz is passionate about helping clients resolve matters in a way that is fair and focused on the interests of the children.
Personal
Liz moved to Sheffield from the Lake District in 2001. She is married with three children who keep her busy and entertained when she is not working. She enjoys park trips with the children, spending time with friends and family, cooking, baking and eating chocolate! She also loves escaping out into the Peak District when she gets the chance.
Background
David qualified in 2010 as a fully accredited mediator. He is a member of the Family Mediators Association and National Family Mediation and is qualified to provide family mediation on all issues including property and finance, and issues concerning children. He is qualified to consult with children where there is a need for child-inclusive mediation.
Before qualifying as a mediator, David practised as a family law solicitor for around 15 years and was a member of Resolution and the Law Society’s Family Law panel. Originally he intended to practice as both a lawyer and a mediator but he found that he enjoyed mediation more, mainly because it is quicker, more direct and often more helpful.
Experience
David has a wealth of experience in family mediation covering the arrangements for children, issues around parenting, communication and conflictual behaviour, schooling, moving home, working out the details of separation, agreements about property or finances, businesses or inheritances. Over the years he has successfully mediated on cases referred by parents, grandparents, solicitors, social workers and Courts.
Approach
When mediating David encourages clients to be solution-focused and child-focused, where there are children. While there clearly is a place for legal advice, most family disputes can benefit from more cooperation, more understanding and less conflict. Mediation is a good way to facilitate this. And even when things seem bad, they can still get better.
Clients have often commented on David’s calm and patient manner, as he helps them work through their issues and reach agreements.
Personal
Outside work David relaxes by listening to music and practising aikido.
Since training in 1993, I have worked in both the independent sector, in the private sector with different legal firms and in my own private practice. I work with families who need to agree arrangements for their children, and/or to agree a financial settlement to achieve a divorce. As a trained Child Inclusive Mediator, over the years I have met a number of children and given them a voice about arrangements affecting their lives.
Working as a Professional Practice Consultant, with both experienced and trainee mediators since 2010, maintaining professional standards and a high-quality delivery of a mediation service to the public, has always been important to me. Over the past three years, I have served on the Family Mediation Standards Board of the Family Mediation Council the regulatory and governing body of the profession.
In my personal life I have three adult children and two Setter dogs, enjoying walking, music and theatre.
Background
Jennie spent her early life in the North East. She went to school in Derbyshire and returned to the North East, attending Northumbria University, to undertake her LLB Exempting Law.
Jennie qualified as a Solicitor in 2007 and has practised within Family law as a Solicitor for over a decade, including as a Law Society Accredited Solicitor, within the private legal sector. As a Solicitor she advised, represented and assisted parents, grandparents and extended family members, in all areas of family law including public and private law proceedings.
In 2010, Jennie completed her Masters degree in Child Law, which expanded her knowledge of the laws relating to children.
Jennie became an All Issues Family Mediator in 2010, since then she has been undertaking Family Mediation, in relation to issues relating to children as well as property & finances, assisting families who are eligible for Legal Aid, private paying and receiving assistance under the Voucher Scheme.
In 2012, Jennie trained as a Direct Child Consultant, this means that she is qualified, where appropriate, to undertake Child Inclusive Mediation, which provides an opportunity for children to have a voice within the Mediation process – something which is widely regarded as beneficial for children and separated families.
Jennie became a PPC (Professional Practice Consultant) in 2015, since then she has provided support and assistance to other Mediators in their obtaining and retaining Acrrediation and Mediation practice since then.
Jennie became an Family Mediation Council (FMC) Accredited Mediator when the FMC was introduced and is committed to complying with its standards.
Experience
Jennie is an experienced Mediator, assisting parents, grandparents, extended family members, adoptive carers and spouses in resolving issues and disputes they were experiencing including; child arrangements (day-to-day, Christmas, holidays), sibling/grandparent/extended family arrangements, relocation, school placement, children’s names, formalisation of Parental reasonability, parenting and communication, divorce/separation, division of assets inc the division of ownership of property, income, businesses, savings, debts, income and pensions.
Approach
Jennie is committed to supporting and assisting families, in resolving issues in a cost-effective, timely manner, focused upon their family’s specific circumstances and needs. She encourages families to explore all possible options, and seek independent legal and financial advice and appropriate support.
Personal
Jennie is very family focused and orientated. She enjoys walking, reading, live music and spending time with her family.
Email: mtaylor@focusfamilymediation.co.uk
Michelle is the mediation assistant and will be your first point of contact. She will be able to offer appointments and general information about mediation.
Michelle was born and educated in Sheffield. She left school in 1987 and was employed for a considerable time in a well-established law firm before joining Focus Family Mediation in 1997. Michelle has a keen interest in computers and reading and relaxes by playing classical guitar and listening to music. She spends most of her leisure time supporting her daughter who is a figure skater.
Email: diane@focusfamilymediation.co.uk
Diane was born in Sheffield and has worked in solicitors and mediators offices since leaving school about 27 years ago! She started off as an office junior and then moved on to become a secretary/mediation assistant.
She spends most of her time with family and friends and enjoys reading and summer holidays.